Irish Noir!

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In the Galway Silence (Jack Taylor #14)  by Ken Bruen   
Even when things are looking up it seems like Jack Taylor's only way is down. When he rescues a suicide from drowning his life moves in a different direction, including a competitive killer who plays one-up-manship with Jack. A bleak Irish detective novel complete with whiskey and fatalism served in large doses.
Staccato presentation leads from one scenario to another, with Jack giving the reader a sotto voice, often self deprecating commentary. Take his reflection on what to wear when meeting his previous wife's new person of interest.
"Right. How do you dress to meet your ex-wife’s new man? Carefully. I put on the obligatory black jacket, white shirt, tie, loosely (to suggest mellow or couldn’t give [care less ... polite euphemism, you can guess] ), black jeans, Docs. ... Checked in the mirror, saw a battered undertaker’s assistant, the guy you keep in the background."
Wonderful tone, and fatalistic nuances surround Jack's self reflections.
I am just as fascinated as I always have been with this anti hero. Whimsy borders on tragedy. Great!

 A NetGalley ARC

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